I sent a master card number to one hotel in Bayeux after their offer and wonder...do they send a confirmation number? If I don't get one, should I ask?

For another hotel I sent an email and got no response..it's over a week..should I fax?. What is the usual wait time (I am an impatient person)

Thanks for the help. I realize each place is different.

Hi lois,

>I sent a master card number to one hotel ..do they send a confirmation number? <

You should get a confirmation within 48 hr.

> I sent an email and got no response..<

Is your hotel open for the season?
Europeans are not as responsive to eml as we are. Send a FAX

>I am an impatient person..<

Unlike the US, that doesn't help in Europe.

Did you ask for a confirmation? I just booked 7 hotels in 5 cities (Paris, Caen, Bruges, Brussells and Amsterdam) and got confirmation of them receiving my credit card # within 24 hours. In my email to them when I sent my card #, I did say, "I look forward to receiving your confirmation" (yes, I do have more hotels than cities, because for now, I've booked 2 hotels in a couple of cities because I can't make up my mind....plenty of time for me to cancel the reservations) Also, I did send my emails in French to all the hotels except for Amsterdam, obviously. Email them again and politely ask for a confirmation.

I have booked 4 hotels for our trip in May and June. I received confirmations from all within 2-3 days or less. I also said that I would be looking for their confirmation. One hotel was slow because they are closed Jan. and Feb. Just e-mail again and ask.

Thanks all. I guess from now on I will ask for confirmation..gosh I learn a little bit each day

I think things could be slow due to the time of year, but I would always say please send a confirmation. They should anyway, but you never know. They will not likely send you a confirmation "number". that doesn't mean anything, you don't need a number, you need the email or FAX that says you have a confirmation with your name and the dates on it, with the type of room and the rate.

I would definitely re-contact a place after a week. If I don't hear from a place, if it is really my top choice, I re-contact in about five days. If it's not, I move on.

OK one hotel that I sent charge card to did give me confirmation.

Now the problem is the second hotel...the Frommer's Find ( tad of sarcasm here)..I emailed and faxxed and have had no response.


Anyway if someone doesn't respond to email, or fax is it time for a call??..or does it mean they are not interested, or disorganized?

Ira...you write emails in French?..I am impressed. And here I am studying my Pimsleur tapes.

Loisco,

Though there's definitely reasons to be impressed with Ira, he's not the one who wrote the emails in French. I am the one who wrote the emails in French, but then again, I spoke French before I ever spoke English, so it's that big of a deal for me.

If a hotel doesn't respond to you, maybe they are all booked.

Pardon...I thought it was Ira who wrote in French. I am impressed. I have been studying my Pimsleur tapes daily ... in the car...everywhere. Have them on my Ipod.

On Sunday I went to our local farmers market and met 5 different French people. (this is San Diego) and had a lovely conversation with all of them. Broken French to them I am sure but I was so happy. There is a crepe stand at the market so I finished the morning off with crepes and ordered in French. Pardon me while I pat myself of the back.

Do you think I need to order a room in French????

loisco,

If you can put your request in French, it's not a bad idea. However, be aware that they will then answer you in French and you may not be able to understand what they have written. But you seem to be doing very well in learning French so maybe you would be okay.

In my experience I have never had a Europena hotel that didn't respond to an e-mail, in English. Telling people that "hotels don't respond to e-mails" especially people who don't know better is about as irresponsible as you can get IMO.

Hi lois,

> I went to our local farmers market and met 5 different French people. (this is San Diego) and had a lovely conversation with all of them. Broken French to them I am sure but I was so happy. <

Good for you.

I prefer emails myself and I think many hotels do now, also, for the same reasons -- no cost, can attend to in off-hours when one has time, etc.

I have had a couple French hotels never respond to emails, though -- both were in Provence. Now that is only two out of many, and I've also had some hotels never respond to a FAX, so there you go.

I have also had hotels respond have numerous contacts by me in a very off-handed way saying, oh, we don't have any vacancies. It was quite clear that they did not respond because they had no vacancies. This is actually a problem with FAXes, I think -- it can cost to send them, so they may not respond if they have no vacancy. Emails don't cost anything.

I do always write in French as I know it pretty well (especially written), that isn't the issue at all with what happened to me. I probably would not write in French unless you know it pretty well.

Some places in resort areas that are closed in winter can take a week or more to respond, but I do not think that is Bayeux unless you know they are closed. If they are not closed, I would definitely try to move on from this relationship and accept that it is over, as they are not responsive to your entreaties. It happens. There will be other hotels out there.

The hotel that doesn't respond is in Rouen. I have sent emails, fax, and maybe I will call.I am lazy because I have to call very late here..(in San Diego) but it's a hotel I want altho i am getting turned off.

Thanks..